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Patriots look for smooth sailing against Pirates to end regular season

FLORENCE, SC – The Francis Marion University men’s and women’s basketball teams will close out their regular-season schedules on Saturday (Feb. 27) with a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader at Armstrong Atlantic State University.

The women’s game will tip-off at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men’s contest at 7:30 p.m. Follow all the action and results of the twinbill through the FMU athletics website at www.fmupatriots.com.

The Francis Marion men (18-8, 10-7) need a win against AASU (11-15, 6-11) to capture second-place in the East Division and secure a first-round PBC Tournament home game. A loss would drop the Patriots into third place and force them to travel to USC Aiken for a first-round tournament game on Wednesday at 7 p.m. With a win in the finale, FMU would host USCA on Wednesday.

The Pirates have won six of their last eight games and are playing to earn the fourth and final tournament berth from the East Division. FMU trails in the all-time series 23-14 and lost to AAAU 63-61 earlier this season. However, the Patriots have been victorious in their last two trips to Savannah.

The 18th-ranked Francis Marion women (23-3, 15-2) have won 13 of their last 14 games and still have an outside shot at capturing a share of their third consecutive PBC regular-season championship. The Patriots are second in the East Division standings one game behind Lander University.

AASU owns a 9-16 overall mark and a 6-11 conference record, but the Lady Pirates are also playing for a chance to earn the final tournament berth in the East Division. FMU leads the all-time series 18-15 and beat AASU 84-67 three weeks ago in Florence.

If Lander loses on Saturday at Augusta State and Francis Marion wins, then the Patriots will share the regular-season crown and be the No.1 seed. The tiebreaker would be by virtue of a better divisional record. If Lander wins on Saturday, the Patriots are the No.2 seed in the tournament. Regardless of Saturday’s outcomes, the Patriot Women will host a first-round PBC Tournament game on Tuesday at 7 p.m.